Health-related opportunistic networking

ABSTRACT

A wireless opportunistic network that can facilitate data transfer by way of interconnected devices is disclosed. In accordance with this opportunistic network, each of the devices effectively contributes to the transfer of the information thereby obviating the need for an external carrier. In this manner, the carrier infrastructure is embodied and distributed throughout the individual devices of the network. In a particular aspect, the opportunistic network is employed to transfer and make available health-related data. This functionality can be used in many scenarios related to heath from, monitoring patients and conveying basic diagnostic data to identifying bioterrorism by way of collaborating data between a number of devices within the network. Essentially, the innovation provides for at least two core functional ideas, the opportunistic network infrastructure and the use of the network in health related scenarios.

BACKGROUND

With the ever-increasing popularity of personal mobile devices, e.g.,cell phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personalmusic players, laptops, etc., ‘mobility’ has been the focus of manyconsumer products as well as services of wireless providers. Forexample, in the telecommunications industry, ‘mobility’ is at theforefront as consumers are no longer restricted by location with regardto communications and computing needs. Rather, today, as technologyadvances, more and more consumers use portable devices in day-to-dayactivities, planning and entertainment.

As mobile device popularity increases, the ability to make telephonecalls, access electronic mail, communicate via instant message (IM) andaccess online services from any location has also continued to evolve.Although wireless technology for data transmission has been availablefor quite some time, limitations such as bandwidth and area coverageplague service providers. More particularly, these types of limitationshave prevented providers from seamlessly establishing mass deploymentsof wireless networks.

More recent innovations such as the WiFi standards and other expandedwireless technologies have made it possible to deploy location-based(e.g., city-wide) wireless access networks and thereafter, to offerrevenue-generating mobile wireless access services. However, most often,these wireless access networks do not extend to less populated areas dueto driving economic concerns. Rather, these conventional networks targetareas with a high population density and do not address those potentialconsumers in less populated areas. This lack of expansion is most oftendue to the wired characteristics of the wireless repeater nodes, as wellas costs associated therewith. For example, most often, rural areas arenot covered by the service area of a conventional cell tower or meshnetwork thereby leaving a gap in the coverage area.

An ‘opportunistic’ network can refer to the use of a co-operating set ofmobile or stationary devices to transfer data whenever connectionopportunities arrive. These opportunities may be limited by the effectsof mobility, bandwidth limitations, and other factors. Both wired andwireless links can be used as connection opportunities. Opportunisticnetworks have the advantage of being able to employ “store and forward”data transfer where data is not sent from one end of the network to theother immediately, but is instead passed hop-by-hop and stored onintermediate nodes until that node has a suitable connection opportunityto pass it on in turn. This allows opportunistic networks to cope withlarge variations in network topology and with poor link qualities, inaddition to traditional networking situations (e.g. where Internetaccess is available).

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in orderto provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the innovation. Thissummary is not an extensive overview of the innovation. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the innovation or todelineate the scope of the innovation. Its sole purpose is to presentsome concepts of the innovation in a simplified form as a prelude to themore detailed description that is presented later.

The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof,comprises an opportunistic network that can facilitate data transferthrough a group of network connected devices where each deviceeffectively contributes to the transfer of the information. In otherwords, the innovation describes an opportunistic network of deviceswhere an external carrier need not be used in order to transfer data.Rather, the carrier infrastructure is embodied and distributedthroughout the individual devices comprising the network.

In one aspect, the innovation describes a store/forward model by way ofthe opportunistic network whereby health-related data can becommunicated to and shared between devices. This sophisticatedcommunication framework can be based upon a peer-to-peer (P2P)framework, or combination of P2P together with an external (e.g., celltower) infrastructure. For example, the infrastructure can be acompletely ad hoc P2P or combination of ad hoc together with atraditional hub-and-spoke framework.

In various health-related aspects, the innovation can be applied tosituations ranging from monitoring basic health-related patient criteriato proactively identifying and alerting of natural disasters and/orbioterrorism. In other words, if an effect is observed, it can bereported, captured and subsequently transferred across the opportunisticnetwork to ensure prompt attention to the matter.

In yet another aspect thereof, a machine learning and reasoning (MLR)component is provided that employs a probabilistic and/orstatistical-based analysis to prognose or infer an action that a userdesires to be automatically performed. By way of example, MLR mechanismscan be employed to make inferences that facilitate timely and accuratetransmission of data across the network, and to infer the correctrecipient depending on properties of the data itself. In a specificexample, an MLR component, based upon type of data, time of day andother contextual factors, can determine which devices to select as thedestination for the data, and also as carriers across the opportunisticnetwork in order to ensure timely and safe delivery of the data.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certainillustrative aspects of the innovation are described herein inconnection with the following description and the annexed drawings.These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various waysin which the principles of the innovation can be employed and thesubject innovation is intended to include all such aspects and theirequivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the innovation willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of theinnovation when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile device that facilitates transmission of dataacross an opportunistic network in accordance with an aspect of theinnovation.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example wireless opportunistic network inaccordance with an aspect of the innovation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example data handoff by way of nodes of anopportunistic network in accordance with an aspect of the innovation.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example flow chart of procedures that facilitatetransfer of data across a network in accordance with an aspect of theinnovation.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow chart of procedures that facilitateestablishment of a hop or carrier path through an opportunistic networkin accordance with an aspect of the innovation.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example opportunistic connection component thatenables a device to communication with another device in accordance withan aspect of the innovation.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example data communication component thatfacilitates receipt and transfer of data in accordance with an aspect ofthe innovation.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example receiving component that facilitates dataanalysis, verification and aggregation in accordance with an aspect ofthe innovation.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example analysis component that facilitatesevaluation of data content in accordance with an aspect of theinnovation.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example data transfer component that facilitatesrouting and transferring of data within an opportunistic network inaccordance with an aspect of the innovation.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example data routing component that determinesavailable and efficient routes throughout an opportunistic network inaccordance with an aspect of the innovation.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a portable device thatfacilitates analysis and transfer of data (e.g., health-related data)across an opportunistic network according to one aspect of the subjectinvention.

FIG. 13 illustrates an architecture of a portable device that includes amachine learning and reasoning component that can automate functionalityin accordance with an aspect of the invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a computer operable to executethe disclosed architecture.

FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an exemplary computingenvironment in accordance with the subject innovation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, whereinlike reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however,that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form in order to facilitate describing the innovation.

As used in this application, the terms “component” and “system” areintended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, acombination of hardware and software, software, or software inexecution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being,a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable,a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way ofillustration, both an application running on a server and the server canbe a component. One or more components can reside within a processand/or thread of execution, and a component can be localized on onecomputer and/or distributed between two or more computers.

As used herein, the term to “infer” or “inference” refer generally tothe process of reasoning about or inferring states of the system,environment, and/or user from a set of observations as captured viaevents and/or data. Inference can be employed to identify a specificcontext or action, or can generate a probability distribution overstates, for example. The inference can be probabilistic-that is, thecomputation of a probability distribution over states of interest basedon a consideration of data and events. Inference can also refer totechniques employed for composing higher-level events from a set ofevents and/or data. Such inference results in the construction of newevents or actions from a set of observed events and/or stored eventdata, whether or not the events are correlated in close temporalproximity, and whether the events and data come from one or severalevent and data sources.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100that facilitates transmission of data across an opportunistic network inaccordance with an aspect of the innovation. Generally, system 100illustrates a mobile device 102 having an opportunistic connectioncomponent 104 and a data communication component 106 therein. Thesecomponents (104, 106) enable the transfer of an input (e.g., 108) to atarget device (not shown). In other words, output (e.g., 110) can bedelivered to a target device from mobile device 102 without any externalinfrastructure.

As will be understood upon a review of the figures that follow, thecommunication infrastructure can be totally encapsulated withinnetwork-connected mobile devices (e.g., 102) in the form of anopportunistic connection component 104 and a data communicationcomponent 106. In other words, in one example, a peer-to-peer (P2P) typeinfrastructure can be established such that the external communicationinfrastructures are not necessary to enable communication. However, itis to be understood that some of the features, functions and benefitsdescribed herein can be employed in other, more conventional,infrastructures such as hub and spoke (e.g., cell tower-based)infrastructures as well as combinations with P2P infrastructures.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a system 200 thatfacilitates the transmission of health-related data by way of anopportunistic network. As shown, a health-related opportunistic network202 can be employed to transfer data between an origin device 204 to atarget device 206. Because mobile devices (e.g., cell phones) areubiquitous in many markets today, it can be possible to establish apeering network or opportunistic network 202 such that each device canparticipate in information transfer throughout the network. As depictedby dashed lines throughout the network 202, information can havemultiple paths by which it can travel from an origin device 204 to atarget device 206. These multiple paths illustrate sophisticatedcollaboration between the devices with respect to bandwidth, availableprocessing capacity, signal strength, cost, security, etc. Effectively,logic within each device can establish redundancies associated with thetype of data which can ensure timely and accurate delivery.

In summary, the subject innovation relates to an opportunistic network202 that can be established between network-connected mobile devices(e.g., 204, 206), for example, cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), smartphones or the like. Rather than employingconventional cell towers that provide a centralized topology, theinnovation shifts to an ‘erratic’ or dynamic topology 202 where eachmobile device can carry a piece of traffic such that the infrastructureis integral to the mobile device itself (or group of devicesthemselves). In one example, it is possible to use the opportunisticnetwork 202 as an intranet where data packets can be aggregated andpassed to devices within the network.

It will be appreciated that one feature/benefit of the opportunisticnetwork 202 is that low communication signals can be mitigated andpossibly eliminated. Reduction and/or elimination of low signal problemsis essentially possible because the vast number of mobile (e.g.,cellular) devices employed will effectively create a service grid 202where each device is a node of the grid 202. As an inherent feature ofthe grid 202, each device can obtain service through a number ofproximate devices. Thus, redundancy can be accomplished therebyenhancing performance of the system 200.

Overall, this opportunistic network 202 can provide ubiquitousconnectivity and/or computing between network-connected devices. Inother words, the more connected devices available, the better they canparticipate in the health-related eco-system of the subject innovation.As described supra, it is also to be understood that this‘opportunistic’ 202 technique can be applied to most any type ofportable and/or mobile computing device such as cellular telephones,smartphones, PDAs, laptops or the like.

In one particular aspect, the opportunistic network 202 can executeapplications with particular networking needs in a health-care context.For example, a first device 204 such as an event recorder component canbe used to capture images of events associated with a monitored entity(e.g., patient, elderly person). The images can be initially stored onthe first device and transferred to a subsequent device when anopportunistic connection is able to be established. In other words, whenthe location of the origin device in relation to the opportunisticnetwork 202, or in relation to at least one device of the opportunisticnetwork, permits connectivity, the images can be automaticallytransferred in a P2P manner. As will be understood, this transfer canoccur instantaneously (e.g., real-time), or stored/forwarded inaccordance with forward criteria. For instance, images can be batchdownloaded based upon a user-defined or location-based trigger.

FIG. 3 is provided to add perspective to an aspect of the innovation.Effectively, FIG. 3 illustrates an example data handoff 300 betweendevices of an opportunistic network. As shown, health data 302 can betransmitted from a monitored entity to a first device. This handoff ofdata is illustrated as a first transmission path 304. Subsequently, thedata can be passed or forwarded to other devices within theopportunistic network as indicated by transmission paths 306-310.Although only four passes are illustrated in FIG. 3, it is to beappreciated that the opportunistic network can include N devices, whereN is an integer.

Accordingly, the data can be passed throughout the opportunistic networkuntil ultimately reaching the end device 312. It is to be understood andappreciated that this example illustrated in FIG. 3 is somewhatsimplistic in nature and is provided to illustrate core concepts ofstore/forward of the innovation. In other aspects, multiple paths can beestablished between devices in order to effectively and/or efficientlytransfer data within the opportunistic network. These alternativeaspects are to be included within the scope of the innovation and claimsappended hereto.

FIG. 4 illustrates a methodology of transmitting data within anopportunistic networking accordance with an aspect of the innovation.While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the one or moremethodologies shown herein, e.g., in the form of a flow chart, are shownand described as a series of acts, it is to be understood andappreciated that the subject innovation is not limited by the order ofacts, as some acts may, in accordance with the innovation, occur in adifferent order and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown anddescribed herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understandand appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented asa series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram.Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement amethodology in accordance with the innovation.

At 402, an opportunistic connection can be established, for example, aP2P connection can be established directly between mobile devices (e.g.,cell phones). In other aspects, ‘hybrid’ connections can be established,for example, a connection to a opportunistic network can be establishedthat employs both P2P as well as conventional hub-and-spoke (e.g., celltower) technologies. It is to be understood that the innovationdescribed herein includes most any connection framework orinfrastructure completely or partially embodied within a distributedmobile device network. As such, although many examples described hereinare directed to a P2P protocol, other examples exist and are to beincluded within the scope of this disclosure and claims appended hereto.

A path from an origin device (or group of devices) to a target device(or group of devices) can be determined at 404. In other words, whether,one-to-many, many-to-many, many-to-one, or one-to-one, a path (orappropriate paths) throughout the network can be determined at 404. Thispath(s) can identify hops necessary to reach a desired target locationas a function of most any criteria, including but not limited to,location, time of day, context, traffic content, sender identity,receiver identity, etc. As will be understood upon a review of thefigures that follow, a policy and/or inference can be used to determinethe path throughout the network.

Once a path is determined, the data can be transmitted at 406. However,it is to be understood that, in aspects, the complete path need not bedetermined before the data is transferred. Rather, only the next hoptoward a target location needs to be established. For example, becausethe network can be dynamically changing (e.g., as mobile devices travelin/out of range), each hop within the journey to the target can beindependently determined. This is indicated by the dashed line between406 and 404, which effectively denotes the possible recursive nature ofthese acts within the methodology.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a methodology ofestablishing and selecting a connection in accordance with an aspect ofthe innovation. Essentially, this methodology illustrates the ability toemploy sophisticated intelligence or logic as well as inferencemechanisms to establish a connection within the opportunistic network bywhich data can be transmitted. Accordingly, a different connection canbe selected for a routine voice call as would be for a priorityhealth-related data transfer (e.g., life threatening heart rate).

Similarly, a different connection can be selected for unprivilegedversus confidential or classified information. This connection can be afunction of the number of hops necessary to reach a target, integrity ofthe carrier unit, etc. By way of further example, an analysis can bedetermined with regard fluidity of the opportunistic network therebylocating a potential carrier unit that is traveling closer to apotential target. As such, this carrier unit could be deemed desirableas a lesser number of hops could potentially be necessary to reach thetarget, thereby protecting the data from unintentional disclosure, lossor corruption.

At 502, an opportunistic connection can be established. Here, thelocation and/or motion of a subject device can be considered indetermining availability of a transmission opportunistic network. At504, a determination can be made if a connection is available. If not,establishment of an opportunistic connection continues until the subjectunit is within range of an available next-hop device. In an example,data can be stored upon a mobile device that is ‘out of range’ of anysuitable transmission path. As such, data, for example health-relatedstatistics, can continue to be aggregated until the mobile devicebecomes connected to an appropriate target device. In this example, itcan be possible for the mobile device to continually monitor and storephysiological statistics of a patient over a period of time.Subsequently, the unit can be automatically configured to forward ordump the data when the device becomes connected to a health care office.These concepts are better illustrated by acts 506 and 508 that follow.

Once an initial connection is made, hop options can be identified as afunction of the connected network. For example, as described above,criteria such as relative location and/or motion based upon the originand target can be factored to determine available hop options. Stillfurther, context such as current activity of a particular unit can befactored into hop option availability.

At 508, a next hop unit can be selected as a function of the dynamicnetwork as well as a function of criteria of each unit within thenetwork. As described above, the next hop can be a function of data type(e.g., voice, health, urgent, confidential, non-urgent) as well as afunction of criteria of devices within the network, for example,location, motion, availability, device type, owner, classification,inferred destination, etc. It is to be understood that the examples aretoo numerous to list thus, alternative aspects that employ features,functions and benefits contemplated herein as well as by those in theart are to be included within the scope of this disclosure and claimsappended hereto.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an example block diagram of an opportunisticconnection component 102 (as described with reference to FIG. 1) isshown. Generally, an opportunistic connection component 102 can includea network analysis component 602 and a connection selection component604, each of which will be described in greater detail infra. Together,these components (602, 604) enable a device to intelligently analyze anavailable network and to thereafter select and appropriate connection inview of those connections available.

The network analysis component 602 can search for an available networkor device available for connection. As well, the network analysiscomponent 602 can analyze and/or evaluate the details of availabledevices within a network. For example, as mentioned above, the networkanalysis component 602 can search for an available network andsubsequently evaluate availability and criteria of devices within theidentified network.

The connection selection component 604 can be employed to intelligentlydecide an appropriate device for which to connect. It is to beunderstood that the store/forward concepts described herein enableunique opportunities for service providers. For instance, a serviceprovider can offer different rate packages in accordance with reservinga portion of a device's processing capability. In other words, if a useris willing to allow a device to be used as a hop or carrier device forother's traffic, a service provider can incorporate this into the user'sservice plan, for example, by offering a lower rate if there is anagreement to share resources (e.g., processor, storage). It will beappreciated that these monetization schemes can be based upon most anycriteria, for example, permit transfer at a particular time of day, dayof week, for a particular type of traffic, from particular origins, etc.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example block diagram of a data communicationcomponent 104 which generally includes a receiving component 702 and adata transfer component 704. Essentially, the receiving component 702can receive data from a source (e.g., physiological sensor,environmental sensor, user, application) or group of sources, analyzethe data, verify the data and aggregate data (if desired). The datatransfer component 704 can effectively forward the data to anappropriate target or group of targets. Each of these components (702,704) will be described in more detail with reference to the figures thatfollow.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example receiving component 702in accordance with an aspect of the innovation. As shown, generally, thereceiving component 702 can include an analysis component 802, averification component 804 and an aggregation component 806 each ofwhich enable a device to capture information in the ‘store’ phase of a‘store/forward’ process. More particularly, these components (802, 804,806) enable sophisticated logic with regard to a data input 808, such ashealth-related data. As will be understood, the input 808 can be of mostany data format, including but not limited to, alphanumeric text, audio,video, image, etc.

In operation, the analysis component 802 can evaluate the data todetermine criteria of the data, for example, type, size, origin, etc. Itis to be appreciated that data can be push to or pulled by way of thereceiving component 702. Once analyzed, the receiving component 702 candetermine if the data is to be immediately forwarded, aggregated, etc.or if the data should be stored (e.g., cached, buffered) for lateraction. For example, the receiving component 702, based upon the type ofdata, can determine if more data is to be received, urgency of delivery(e.g., priority), target location, etc. In addition to core contentanalysis techniques, the analysis component 802 can also employtechniques such as pattern recognition, speech recognition, or the liketo analyze content of the received data.

The verification component 804 can be employed to confirm accuratedelivery of the data. Here, accuracy relates both to the lack ofcorruption as well as completeness of the data. In other words, theverification component 804 can establish if more information isnecessary to complete the data transmission before a ‘forward’ action ortransfer of the data is instantiated.

The aggregation component 806 can facilitate collection of additionalinformation if deemed necessary. For example, if the verificationcomponent 804 deems a transmission incomplete, the aggregation component806 can be employed to collect additional information thus, completingthe transmission. In addition to completeness, the logic of theverification component 806 can be employed to otherwise determine ifmore information can be gathered. For example, if it is deemed thatcurrent information is to be delivered to a particular target within thenetwork and capacity is still available to capture additionalinformation bound for the same target, in the interest of efficiency,the aggregation component 806 can gather additional information prior toforwarding. For instance, information about a health-related issue canbe gathered from other proximate devices in the event that capacity isavailable. Here, this additional information can give a differentperspective of an event such as images of a patient just prior to aheart attack, epileptic seizure, outburst, collapse, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an example block diagram of an analysiscomponent 802 is shown as having a content analysis component 902, atarget determination component 904, and a policy component 906. Asdescribed above, each of these components contribute to intelligentprocess of data. Continuing with the health-related example from above,data can be analyzed to determine type and relevance of the data, wherethe data is to be sent and, based upon determined criteria, how best andmost efficiently to transfer the data. This functionality can beaccomplished by the analysis component 902, the target determinationcomponent 904 and the policy component 906 respectively.

More specifically, the content analysis component 902 can evaluatereceived data to determine characteristics that can be used inprocessing and handling the data. For example, suppose the data isreceived from a physiological sensor mechanism—in this example, thecontent analysis can determine what the information represents (e.g.,blood pressure measurement from a particular patient) and, based uponthe determined content, it can further be determined if the informationis urgent, confidential, etc. This determination can be made as afunction of policy component 906. Here, the policy component 906 caninclude rules for quality of service, priority delivery, etc. all ofwhich can be factored to determine delivery.

The target determination component 904 can further employ the policy 906in determining where to deliver the information. For example, suppose Ais a patient of doctor B—here, if it is determined that the informationis not urgent, it can routinely be delivered to doctor B no matter howlong the delivery may take. However, if it is determined that urgent orpriority delivery is desired, the target determination component 904 canidentify another suitable target such that action can be promptly takenbased upon the type of information. It is also to be understood that,the target determination component can identify multiple targets towhich to deliver the information. Continuing with the above example,here, the data can be sent to the alternative location (e.g., emergencymedical facility) so as to prompt immediate action while stilldelivering a copy of the information to doctor B.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example block diagram of a data transfercomponent 704 in accordance with an aspect of the innovation. Generallythe data transfer component 704 includes a data routing component 1002and a transmission system component 1004. As the target destinations aredetermined by the content analysis component 902, the data routingcomponent 1002 can be employed to determine specifics with regard totransferring the data throughout the network. The data routing component1002 employs specifics about the data in determining how best to routethe data throughout the network.

The transmission system component 1004 enables transfer of the datawithin the network. For example, the transmission system component 1004can be based upon a P2P communications network that allows all devicesin the network to act as servers and share their files with all otherusers and devices on the network. In accordance with the opportunisticnetwork described herein, in aspects, most any wireless protocol can beused for example, most any cellular technology, 802.11, infrared,Bluetooth, or the like.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example block diagram of a data routing component904. In determining a route (or group of routes) throughout theopportunistic network, a proximate device locator component 1102 can beused to identify optional ‘in-range’ devices by which data can betransferred. Further, the proximate device locator component 1102 caninclude logic capable of inferring locations of devices based uponhistorical and/or statistical data. In other words, machine learning andreasoning (MLR) mechanisms can be employed to infer if a device will bein range when data is ready or should/could be transferred.

A transmit path determination component 1104 can employ the proximatedevice information to specify a route (or group of routes) throughoutthe opportunistic network. This component can also employ MLR mechanismswhen determining hops or carrier devices in view of the dynamic networkas a function of the data. Both the proximate device locator component1102 as well as the transit path determination component 1104 canoptionally factor device load into decisions. For instance, an optionalload analysis component 1106 can be employed to assist in deviceidentification and path determination as a function of current and/orinferred future load of a device.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a schematic block diagramof a portable device 1200 according to one aspect of the subjectinnovation, in which a processor 1202 is responsible for controlling thegeneral operation of the device 1200. It is to be understood that theportable device 1200 can be representative of most any portable deviceincluding, but not limited to, a cell phone, smartphone, PDA, a personalmusic player, image capture device (e.g., camera), personal gamestation, health monitoring device, event recorder component, etc.

The processor 1202 can be programmed to control and operate the variouscomponents within the device 1200 in order to carry out the variousfunctions described herein. The processor 1202 can be any of a pluralityof suitable processors. The manner in which the processor 1202 can beprogrammed to carry out the functions relating to the subject innovationwill be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art basedon the description provided herein. As will be described in greaterdetail infra, an MLR component and/or a rules-based logic component canbe used to effect an automatic action of processor 1202.

A memory and storage component 1204 connected to the processor 1202serves to store program code executed by the processor 1202, and alsoserves as a storage means for storing information such as data,services, metadata, device states or the like. In aspects, this memoryand storage component 1204 can be employed in conjunction with othermemory mechanisms that house health-related data. As well, in otheraspects, the memory and storage component 1204 can be a stand-alonestorage device or otherwise synchronized with a cloud or disparatenetwork based storage means, thereby established a local on-boardstorage of health-related data.

The memory 1204 can be a non-volatile memory suitably adapted to storeat least a complete set of the information that is acquired. Thus, thememory 1204 can include a RAM or flash memory for high-speed access bythe processor 1202 and/or a mass storage memory, e.g., a micro drivecapable of storing gigabytes of data that comprises text, images, audio,and video content. To this end, it is to be appreciated that thehealth-related data described herein can be of most any form includingtext (e.g., sensor readings), images (e.g., captured image sequences) aswell as audio or video content. According to one aspect, the memory 1204has sufficient storage capacity to store multiple sets of informationrelating to disparate services, and the processor 1202 could include aprogram for alternating or cycling between various sets of informationcorresponding to disparate services.

A display 1206 can be coupled to the processor 1202 via a display driversystem 1208. The display 1206 can be a color liquid crystal display(LCD), plasma display, touch screen display or the like. In one example,the display 1206 is a touch screen display. The display 1206 functionsto present data, graphics, or other information content. Additionally,the display 1206 can display a variety of functions that control theexecution of the device 1200. For example, in a touch screen example,the display 1206 can display touch selection buttons which canfacilitate a user to interface more easily with the functionalities ofthe device 1200.

Power can be provided to the processor 1202 and other components formingthe device 1200 by an onboard power system 1210 (e.g., a battery pack).In the event that the power system 1210 fails or becomes disconnectedfrom the device 1200, a supplemental power source 1212 can be employedto provide power to the processor 1202 (and other components (e.g.,sensors, image capture device)) and to charge the onboard power system1210. The processor 1202 of the device 1200 can induce a sleep mode toreduce the current draw upon detection of an anticipated power failure.

The device 1200 includes a communication subsystem 1214 having a datacommunication port 1216, which is employed to interface the processor1202 with a remote computer, server, service, or the like. The port 1216can include at least one of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394serial communications capabilities. Other technologies can also beincluded, but are not limited to, for example, infrared communicationutilizing an infrared data port, Bluetooth™, etc.

The device 1200 can also include a radio frequency (RF) transceiversection 1218 in operative communication with the processor 1202. The RFsection 1218 includes an RF receiver 1220, which receives RF signalsfrom a remote device via an antenna 1222 and can demodulate the signalto obtain digital information modulated therein. The RF section 1218also includes an RF transmitter 1224 for transmitting information (e.g.,data, service) to a remote device, for example, in response to manualuser input via a user input 1226 (e.g., a keypad) or automatically inresponse to a detection of entering and/or anticipation of leaving acommunication range or other predetermined and programmed criteria.

An opportunistic connection component 1228 is provided which, asdescribed supra, can facilitate connection of the device 1200 with anopportunistic network which can be used to transmit data in adevice-to-device manner (e.g., P2P). Additionally, a data communicationcomponent 1230 can be employed to further facilitate delivery of data toa target device via the opportunistic network. It is to be appreciatedthat these components can enable functionality of like components (andsub-components) described supra.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example device 1300 that employs MLR component1302 which facilitates automating one or more features in accordancewith the subject innovation. The subject innovation (e.g., in connectionwith determining carrier devices, delivery priority, datacharacteristics/completeness) can employ various MLR-based schemes forcarrying out various aspects thereof. For example, a process fordetermining which carrier devices to employ as a function of data typecan be facilitated via an automatic classifier system and process.Moreover, where multiple paths to a target are available, the classifiercan be employed to determine which carrier devices to select in view ofcontext and other situational factors.

A classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1,x2, x3, x4, xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, thatis, f(x)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ aprobabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring intothe analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that auser desires to be automatically performed.

A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can beemployed. The SVM operates by finding a hypersurface in the space ofpossible inputs, which the hypersurface attempts to split the triggeringcriteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes theclassification correct for testing data that is near, but not identicalto training data. Other directed and undirected model classificationapproaches include, e.g., naive Bayes, Bayesian networks, decisiontrees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilisticclassification models providing different patterns of independence canbe employed. Classification as used herein also is inclusive ofstatistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated from the subject specification, thesubject innovation can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained(e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g.,via observing user behavior, receiving extrinsic information). Forexample, SVM's are configured via a learning or training phase within aclassifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, theclassifier(s) can be used to automatically learn and perform a number offunctions, including but not limited to determining according to apredetermined criteria how to classify data, where to send data, whatpriority should be employed, which carrier device(s) to employ, when tostore and for how long, when to transmit data, etc. It is further to beappreciated that device 1300 can be equipped with an optionalrules-based component (not shown) that facilitates policies and/orthreshold based logic to be employed in making determinations associatedwith the functionality described herein.

In other aspects, the example device 1300 can trade off cost and privacyversus emergency needs. For example, if a user is having a heart attack,it may be a logical tradeoff to reveal confidential information andmedical data (e.g., ECG) or how much it costs to send in exchange forreaching help in sufficient time to address the urgency. However, asdescribed supra, in a ‘normal’ scenario, it can be possible to reduce orlimit costs, for example, by storing data until a free network or P2Ptransfer agent is available rather than use expensive cell-basednetworks while maintaining data security/privacy.

In another example, the device 1300 can automatically decide (byinference) to send data to a service rather than sending to a node-name.By way of example, an ECG can be sent to a nearby paramedic or doctor,regardless of which one, or sent to whichever device is being carried bythe on-call medical resident for Ward B, as opposed to a particularnamed doctor or named device. As described above, these decisions can bebased upon user preference, inference or rule as a function of datacontent or context.

Still further, implicit trust relationships can be established basedupon context. For example, with regard to the privacy and securitycontext, when a device is in a hospital environment, a trustrelationship can automatically be established with other devices in nearproximity. This automatic trust establishment can facilitateinteroperation without restrictive continual authentication demands.

Referring now to FIG. 14, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputer operable to execute the disclosed architecture of anopportunistic network-based mobile device and network. In order toprovide additional context for various aspects of the subjectinnovation, FIG. 14 and the following discussion are intended to providea brief, general description of a suitable computing environment 1400 inwhich the various aspects of the innovation can be implemented. Whilethe innovation has been described above in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions that may run on one or more computers,those skilled in the art will recognize that the innovation also can beimplemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated aspects of the innovation may also be practiced indistributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

A computer typically includes a variety of computer-readable media.Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby the computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media can comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such ascomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM,ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium which can be used to store the desired informationand which can be accessed by the computer.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the anyof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

With reference again to FIG. 14, the exemplary environment 1400 forimplementing various aspects of the innovation includes a computer 1402,the computer 1402 including a processing unit 1404, a system memory 1406and a system bus 1408. The system bus 1408 couples system componentsincluding, but not limited to, the system memory 1406 to the processingunit 1404. The processing unit 1404 can be any of various commerciallyavailable processors. Dual microprocessors and other multi-processorarchitectures may also be employed as the processing unit 1404.

The system bus 1408 can be any of several types of bus structure thatmay further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 1406includes read-only memory (ROM) 1410 and random access memory (RAM)1412. A basic input/output system (BIOS) is stored in a non-volatilememory 1410 such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basicroutines that help to transfer information between elements within thecomputer 1402, such as during start-up. The RAM 1412 can also include ahigh-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 1402 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)1414 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive 1414 may also beconfigured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), amagnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 1416, (e.g., to read from or write to aremovable diskette 1418) and an optical disk drive 1420, (e.g., readinga CD-ROM disk 1422 or, to read from or write to other high capacityoptical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive 1414, magnetic diskdrive 1416 and optical disk drive 1420 can be connected to the systembus 1408 by a hard disk drive interface 1424, a magnetic disk driveinterface 1426 and an optical drive interface 1428, respectively. Theinterface 1424 for external drive implementations includes at least oneor both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 interfacetechnologies. Other external drive connection technologies are withincontemplation of the subject innovation.

The drives and their associated computer-readable media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 1402, the drives and mediaaccommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to aHDD, a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media suchas a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of media which are readable by a computer, such as zipdrives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and thelike, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment, andfurther, that any such media may contain computer-executableinstructions for performing the methods of the innovation.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 1412,including an operating system 1430, one or more application programs1432, other program modules 1434 and program data 1436. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 1412. It is appreciated that the innovation can beimplemented with various commercially available operating systems orcombinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1402 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 1438 and apointing device, such as a mouse 1440. Other input devices (not shown)may include a microphone, an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad,a stylus pen, touch screen, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 1404 through an input deviceinterface 1442 that is coupled to the system bus 1408, but can beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 1444 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 1408 via an interface, such as a video adapter 1446. Inaddition to the monitor 1444, a computer typically includes otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 1402 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1448. The remotecomputer(s) 1448 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer1402, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device1450 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted includewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 1452 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 1454. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich may connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1402 isconnected to the local network 1452 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 1456. The adapter 1456 mayfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 1452, which mayalso include a wireless access point disposed thereon for communicatingwith the wireless adapter 1456.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1402 can includea modem 1458, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN1454, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN1454, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 1458, which can beinternal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to thesystem bus 1408 via the serial port interface 1442. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 1402, orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1450. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexemplary and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

The computer 1402 is operable to communicate with any wireless devicesor entities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., aprinter, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable dataassistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or locationassociated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand,restroom), and telephone. This includes at least Wi-Fi and BluetoothTMwireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefinedstructure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoccommunication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, allows connection to the Internet from acouch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work,without wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in acell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send andreceive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a basestation. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b,g, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. AWi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to theInternet, and to wired networks (which use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet).Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, atan 11 Mbps (802.11a) or 54 Mbps (802.11b) data rate, for example, orwith products that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks canprovide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wiredEthernet networks used in many offices.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is illustrated a schematic block diagramof an exemplary computing environment 1500 in accordance with thesubject wireless opportunistic network and/or device innovation. Thesystem 1500 includes one or more client(s) 1502. The client(s) 1502 canbe hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computingdevices). The client(s) 1502 can house cookie(s) and/or associatedcontextual information by employing the innovation, for example.

The system 1500 also includes one or more server(s) 1504. The server(s)1504 can also be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes,computing devices). The servers 1504 can house threads to performtransformations by employing the innovation, for example. One possiblecommunication between a client 1502 and a server 1504 can be in the formof a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two or more computerprocesses. The data packet may include a cookie and/or associatedcontextual information, for example. The system 1500 includes acommunication framework 1506 (e.g., a global communication network suchas the Internet) that can be employed to facilitate communicationsbetween the client(s) 1502 and the server(s) 1504.

Communications can be facilitated via a wired (including optical fiber)and/or wireless technology. The client(s) 1502 are operatively connectedto one or more client data store(s) 1508 that can be employed to storeinformation local to the client(s) 1502 (e.g., cookie(s) and/orassociated contextual information). Similarly, the server(s) 1504 areoperatively connected to one or more server data store(s) 1510 that canbe employed to store information local to the servers 1504.

What has been described above includes examples of the innovation. Itis, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination ofcomponents or methodologies for purposes of describing the subjectinnovation, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that manyfurther combinations and permutations of the innovation are possible.Accordingly, the innovation is intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes”is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term isintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

1. A system that facilitates communication of health-related data through an opportunistic network, comprising: an opportunistic connection component that determines a communication path between an origin device and a target device based upon a health-related situation, wherein the communication path travels through a plurality of devices active within the opportunistic network; and a data communication component that facilitates transfer of the data along the communication path.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of devices in the wireless opportunistic network dynamically change as a function of location which alters configuration of the opportunistic networking path, including altering paths for ongoing transmissions.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication path is determined based upon acuteness or severity of the health-related situation.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an analysis component that evaluates the plurality of devices that are active within the opportunistic network; and a connection selection component that determines at least one of the active devices as a function of at least one of data type, context, or provider policy criteria.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a receiving component that obtains, analyzes and verifies health-related data; and a data transfer component that facilitates transmission of the data along the communication path as a function of the analysis of the health-related data.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the health-related data is gathered by way of a plurality of sensory mechanisms.
 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an aggregation component that collects the health-related data from a subset of the plurality of devices active in the opportunistic network.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an analysis component that evaluates the health-related data; a routing component that determines an optimal communication path to the target device as a function of the analysis; and a transmission system component that transfers a subset of the health-related data along the optimal communication path.
 9. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a content analysis component that evaluates content of the health-related data; a target determination component that identifies the target device as a function of the content evaluation; a policy component that identifies at least one of a delivery rule or a preference as a function of the content in view of the target device; and a monetization component that calculates a cost for each of the devices active in the opportunistic network that store/forward the data along the communication path.
 10. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a proximate device locator component that identifies a plurality of devices proximate to the origin device; a load analysis component that establishes available transmit capacity of each of the proximately located plurality of devices; and a transmit path determination component that facilitates establishment of the communication path as a function of the available transmit capacity analysis.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless opportunistic network comprises a plurality of mobile devices having capability to store and forward health-related data using an internal communication infrastructure.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a machine learning and reasoning component that automatically selects the communication path based upon at least one of a probabilistic and a statistical-based analysis.
 13. A computer-implemented method of transmitting health-related data across a wireless opportunistic network, comprising: receiving health-related data from at least one device in the wireless opportunistic network; analyzing the health-related data based upon a heath-related protocol; locating a plurality of handoff devices as a function of the analysis of the health-related data; and transferring a portion of the health-related data to each of the handoff devices in sequence so as to transmit the data to a desired target device.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring the wireless opportunistic network, wherein the wireless opportunistic network includes a plurality of portable devices each capable of receiving and sending health-related data by way of an internal communication infrastructure.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing the health-related data at least until one of the plurality of handoff devices is located.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising aggregating the health-related data by way of a plurality of health related sensory mechanisms.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising prioritizing transfer of the health-related data with respect to other data as a function of at least one of data content, type or context.
 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising actively monitoring the wireless opportunistic network to dynamically identify the plurality of handoff devices.
 19. A computer-executable system that facilitates transmitting health-related data using an opportunistic networking infrastructure, comprising: means for establishing the opportunistic networking infrastructure by occasional or periodic interconnection of a plurality of mobile devices; means for receiving health-related data on a subset of the mobile devices; means for aggregating the health-related data onto an origin device; means for determining priority of transmission as a function of content or context of the health-related data; means for identifying a communication path through the opportunistic networking infrastructure as a function of the priority; and means for transferring the health-related data to a target entity by way of the communication path.
 20. The computer-executable system of claim 19, further comprising means for inferring the target entity as a function of content or context of the health related data, and for dynamically changing the communication path for data en route as a function of content or context. 